'You're abandoned, I feel for you' judge tells teen girl in Kildare court

A teenage girl who lives alone at home for much of time and whose parents live in different places, sought court protection at Naas District Court.

She sought a protection  order from Judge Desmond Zaidan against her mother, who "lives in her boyfriend’s house.”

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Neither, she added, does her dad reside in the house and she had been in care for a short period.

She further told the court that her mother had taken her out of school but she hopes to do the Leaving Cert Applied course, which is designed to prepare students for adult and working life.

She also told the court that a boyfriend of a family member had screamed into her face.

Judge Zaidan commented that it was shocking that the care system effectively abandons a person once they reach the age of 18 years.

“I feel for you, you're a woman but you’re young and naive,” Judge Zaidan told her.

The judge granted her an interim protection order. He also referred her to a solicitor and a free and confidential support service for women and children.